Adventures in family life, my vintage and thrift shop treasure hunt, sewing, creating, and living an intentional life of simplicity and joy.

August 2010

August 24, 2010

"The littleness of Christians of this age results from the littleness of their consecration to Christ."C. H. SpurgeonSamson Conquered, sermon from November 21, 1858

How does this observation make me feel? We've all seen it, experienced it, and often are guilty of it. It reminds us that when we are confronted with truth, we have a couple of options: we can make excuses and blame someone else, we can just ignore it and go about our daily business, or we can face it boldly, courageously and own our part of this reality and make a determination to address it. The problem is, that this is a reality that needs to be addressed every day, probably every hour and every minute of our lives, because we live in a world that bombards us with so many distractions that it is very difficult to stay focused. Even if you are truly committed to following Christ in every area of life.

We live in a part of the country that has numerous Amish communities nearby. Just a few houses down from us, there is a house that is a "summer cottage" for an Amish family. They come out to the cottage sometimes on a Friday and Saturday, set up their lawn games and picnic table in their front yard, go swimming and boating, and cook out on their charcoal grill. How do they get there, I wonder? I've never seen a horse and buggy out front or in the garage, and yet there they are, most weekends in the summer, wearing their distinctive "plain" garments, their windows thrown wide open even on the most oppressively hot days when I've got my AC running full blast. What's up with that?

I don't know, and it really doesn't matter, except that I find it interesting and curious . . . . . because somehow, whether we agree with all of their theology or not, the Amish people have established a culture of being "separate" from modern society that allows them the peacefulness, the quiet, the structure and the routine that helps people devote themselves to their faith. I admire them for that. The Amish communities that I have observed express a deep, consistent, and enduring determination to live a life that expresses the "largeness" of their consecration to Christ. Of course, they are just people like the rest of us, with a variety of real-life struggles, relationship and parenting concerns, and community conflicts. But the overall approach to life that I've observed among the Amish people here in our area offers the kind of environment in which a person can more readily develop a life that is wholly devoted to God.

Now, the next question logically follows: Does one HAVE to live a life of complete separation from the modern world to achieve the kind of complete devotion and dedication to our faith that we are seeking here? And the answer, you know, is of course not. But there are definitely some advantages to living a life of simplicity, peacefulness, and order that provides more opportunities for achieving that goal. So how do we address the reality of the "littleness" of our consecration to Christ in the midst of a world that constantly is screaming at us? How can we escape the incessant noise that surrounds us, calling us to this distraction and that excitement, telling us that we "deserve" to be entertained every hour of every day?

Perhaps it is a choice. When we look at ancient history, there was a culture that had become the greatest in all of humanity to that time. And yet, that culture was destroyed from the inside, not by the barbarians clamouring at their borders . . . . when they had become convinced that they had a "right" to their "bread and circuses." Just entertain us and feed us. Maybe we DO need to take a look at our consecration to Christ; at our determination to become people of honor, justice, devotion and commitment to becoming all that God would have us be. Sometimes I wonder if we might have to follow the example of the Amish communities, just so we can find a place where it is quiet enough to think about all of this!

Please visit Miriam Pauline's blog today, Miriam Pauline's Monologue, to find the links to the other blogs of this week's IOW participants. And, of course, leave a link back to YOUR blog so we can come and visit you! Have a great Tuesday ;o)

August 17, 2010

"Only when we understand that God has ordained our suffering can we begin to make sense of it. Only then can we be certain that He has a purpose in it. When tragedy comes, when adversity strikes, we will not be shaken. Yes, we will cry. Yes, we will grieve. But we will move on confidently knowing that God is on His throne, that we are in His hand, that our circumstances are His doing, and that He is working them for our good."

~~ Terry L. Johnson, When Grace Comes Home

Time. For many of us, time feels like the "enemy." We don't want to wait, to be patient, to trust that our immediate circumstances will be used by God to create something far more beautiful than we could have imagined. It all seems so senseless when we are in the midst of crisis, when everything around us appears to be broken beyond repair. The clouds of confusion make it very difficult to comprehend that God is still there, and that He has a plan and a purpose for our suffering.

But I have learned over the years, and through many heartbreaking circumstances, that "time always tells the truth." Eventually we will see the plan, the purpose, and the reason for our suffering. Now, that is not to say that God makes us suffer through agonizing, dream-shattering events in life just to make His point . . . . but He uses the circumstances of our lives, both the joys and the heart aches, to create something that never could have been possible without those moments of darkness. Here's a story to express this truth:

When she discovered that her family was falling apart, she had to decide whether it was the "right" choice or the "wrong" choice to address the infidelity. And because the children were still small, she decided that the "right" choice was to remain silent, protect the children, and try to "fix" her marriage. So she did. For 25 years. All of those years the marriage continued to be violated by infidelity, but she was determined that her children would have a "normal" childhood. And they did. Kind of.

She thought she had made the "right" choice, but discovered later that her silence and all of her efforts to "fix" herself, "fix" her marriage, and "fix" her family made no difference in the ongoing secret life of her husband. And it turned out NOT to be a good choice for her children, because they were completely stunned when she finally broke. After 25 years the marriage finally came to a disastrous end, with much brokenness for the entire family . . . . well, except for the one who had perpetuated the pretense in the first place.

Through the years of deception, blaming, accusations, and lies she wondered when . . . . . how . . . . if God could use all that brokenness to make something beautiful. Sin is sin, and there are consequences for sin. But there is also forgiveness, mercy, and grace. And over time, the truth began to be revealed, and eventually she saw how all those years of heartache, shattered dreams, and a broken heart turned into another story. A story of hope, of redemption, or restoration, and of beauty.

For out of those years of secrecy, pretense, and pain God brought a new relationship that is safe and trusting. And God also brought two little girls from China to live with their "Forever Family" in America where they will be treated with respect and dignity. They will be allowed to have an education, and they will be allowed to be loved. Instead of being tossed to the side of the road in a rural Chinese village, God had His hand on two precious children who now have the opportunity to be part of a family. Instead of being left alone in the "dying room" of a Chinese orphanage, they are now wrapped in the warm embrace of their church family. That might not have happened if she hadn't been willing to walk through that time of darkness in her heart and soul. But it takes time. So, be patient, because "time always tells the truth."

If you would like to join us this week for "In Other Words," please visit our hostess this week, Jennifer at Scraps and Snippets, where you will find links to the other IOW participants and where you can leave your link so we can visit you to read your thoughts on this quote. Have a great Tuesday - and never, ever give up hope! Hugs, Nina

August 09, 2010

"The Gospel alone is sufficient to rule the lives of Christians everywhere. . . any additional rules made to govern men's conduct added nothing to the perfection already found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ."~ John Wycliffe

Many years ago, as a fairly new Christian, it became very puzzling to me to observe that we were always talking about how we are "saved by grace, and not of works," and yet there frequently seemed to be some particular "thing" that we really should be doing. Over the years, those "things" move in and out of popularity ;o) Kind of like fashion: what is old is new again, and "things" that were considered necessary or taboo in 1987 might be coming into "vogue" again in our Christian communities.

I remember when there was the Great Discussion about whether or not families should have a television in the home. Of course, wanting to be a "good mommy" I agonized over how to handle this "thing" that had become a huge debate in our church among the young families. Another "thing" that we all had to discuss was how to educate our children; and there were those who insisted that if you didn't keep your children in the public schools, that you were neglecting your "duty" to share the Gospel. Or, if you didn't put your children in private school, that you were neglecting your children's spiritual welfare. Or, if you didn't home school your children, you were neglecting both their spiritual as well as educational welfare.

And then the "Mommy Wars" continue, where we all have an opinion on whether or not mommies should be employed outside of the home. Those "wars" continue to this day, as I have observed on several mommy blogs out here in cyberspace. It seems that there is always some "thing" for us to discuss in determining if we are doing it "right" or not. We have "rules" about all kinds of things like whether or not it is appropriate to wear slacks to church, or should we wear make-up or jewelry. These "things" might be different from one Christian community to another, but it appears that there are always certain "things" by which we judge one another's commitment to Christ. Instead of resting in His grace which will guide each one of us to know what is right in our own life.

If we truly believe what we claim to believe, that our "righteousness" only comes as a result of our salvation and redemption through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, then we KNOW that we cannot be "good enough" on our own. One of my personal struggles has been over letting go of the notion that I really do, somehow, need to do my part and not just sit around and let God do all the work ;o) Silly, I know . . . but perhaps some of that notion came from the years of hearing the clamour of voices calling, "This way . . . .," "No, this way. . .," or "You really SHOULD do . . . " or "You really OUGHT to do . . . "

Over time, the "Shoulds" will break your spirit, until you finally ignore all of those voices and remember that it is the sacrifice and the shed blood of Jesus that makes you righteous; His perfection that has been bestowed on me, and on all who believe, as a FREE gift of God's grace. I cannot earn it. There is a balance between truly understanding "grace" and the very high price that He paid for our salvation, and accepting that this is a free gift, which calls us to offer back our lives through a spirit of submission and obedience.

Sometimes the differences are so subtle that we get confused . . . . but when we focus on obedience to His Word perhaps it will not be quite so confusing when we encounter the cacophony of voices all around who all seem to "know" what you or I "should" do. Let's just listen to His voice, and do what He would have each of us do, even if it might be different from those voices of "authority" all around us who are the loudest.

Please visit Esthermay at her blog, Heart of a Pastor's Wife, where you will find the links to the other participants in this week's "In Other Words." Then, you can leave your link, too, and we can come and visit you to read your thoughts on this quote. Have a great week, and don't forget to seek His face, His voice, and His Word, knowing that forgiveness is His precious gift to you through the sacrifice of His Son.

August 03, 2010

“Instead of trying to fix yourself, fix your gaze on Me, the lover of your soul. Rather than using your energy to judge yourself, redirect it to praising Me. Remember that I see you clothed in my righteousness, radiant in My perfect love.”

Fashion has never been an important part of my world. As a young girl, growing up in a rural community where there really was no "right side of the tracks," it just never occurred to me to consider my clothing as much more than something to keep me warm, modest, and covered. Of course, I always admire beautiful clothing, and I enjoy refashioning and hand-embellishing garments and shoes that I sell in my little Etsy shop. And because I am a pretty creative spirit, the challenge of taking someting "old" and recreating it into something new and beautiful holds great attraction for me. But as far as my own wardrobe . . . . well, I tend to find something (usually at the thrift shop) that is comfy, fits well, and compliments my body type ;o) and then wear it until it falls apart. The idea of "new clothes" is just not something that has been a big part of my life.

However, the idea of "fixing myself" has definitely been a driving motivation in my life! When you are in a community, a family, a church where there is always so much more that you should do, could do, ought to do . . . . there is a never-ending quest to "fix youself" and "do" all of those things that other people seem to expect of you. Many of us, as women, fall so easily into that dangerous trap! The deadly combination of getting "comfortable" in our "garment" of insecurity, fear, and anxiety, coupled with our false belief that somehow we need to "fix" everything that is "wrong" in our little world will drain your energy and leave you feeling like an insignificant failure. The truth is that we need to change the focus of our energy!

I'm trying to make a conscious effort, every day (usually every hour and sometimes every minute!) to focus my energy on praising my Heavenly Father for what "is" and deliberately letting go of all of my fear. I'm working on being less judgmental of myself (trying to ignore all of those old voices in my memory that always remember every mistake I've ever made!), and actively visualizing myself as clothed in His righteousness. Because in reality, when I invest all that energy in trying to "fix" myself, I've momentarily forgotten that God sent His Son to be my Savior because I can't do it myself. Seems like I would have figured that out by now! Today, when you feel yourself wandering in the Forest of Should-Have, or in the Wilderness of Ought-To, face the Son. Because no matter what the world around you insists on telling you, you truly do shine with the radiance of His love. And that's all that ultimately matters. I'm trying to relax, won't you join me?

"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21

Please visit Debbie, our hostess for In Other Words this week, at her blog Heart Choices, to read her post and find the links to the other participants. Have a great Tuesday and don't forget to put on your very best outfit today: clothe yourself in His righteousness and then enjoy the freedom that comes from His love.